“So, Shepard is saving the galaxy again, but this time with cards and dice,” laughs Karel as we set up the game board. “I’m taking Garrus, I can already hear his iconic line in my head.”
“Fine,” I reply, “then I’ll be Liara, because asari rule biotics. And someone has to keep you hotheads in check.”
And that’s how our first campaign of Mass Effect: The Board Game begins, a tabletop adaptation of the legendary BioWare PC and console series that brings the best of the digital universe to the table. The atmosphere is intense from the very start: a campaign map full of main missions, loyalty quests for each hero, and a storybook packed with dozens of passages that shape the fate of the galaxy.
Each player chooses a character – Shepard, Garrus, Liara, Tali, or Wrex – and together we embark on missions that branch based on success or failure. “Look, if we mess this up,” says Petr as we start the Breakthrough mission, “the Reactor is going to blow and we’re done for.”
“Relax,” I tell him, “I’ve got an ability that gives us a reroll, just cover me.”
This game isn’t about everyone playing for themselves. It’s all about cooperation and tactics. Each mission has its own special conditions, enemies, and objectives, and it’s not just about the dice – it’s about how well we synchronize our skills as a team. The reward isn’t only the victory points marked by dots on the campaign map, but the feeling that we’ve truly moved the story forward.
The storybook adds even more tension, since some passages grant you a victory point, while others take one away, and every choice you make immediately shapes what happens next. When we completed Tali’s loyalty mission, it wasn’t just about the extra point, it was about helping her and making her story feel more personal. Just like fans remember from the video games – it’s all about relationships, choices, and consequences.
And here, it all unfolds at the table, with dice, cards, and plenty of laughter as well as tense moments. This game is a must for anyone who loves Mass Effect, because it lets you relive the galactic drama in a cooperative campaign. But it’s also great for board gamers who want a strong story, suspense, and team strategy.
“So, what do you think,” I ask after we finish Mission A, “do we go for Mission B?”
“Of course,” comes the unanimous reply. Because the galaxy won’t save itself.